State Representative José Javier Rodríguez, D-Miami, wants the Miami Dolphins to share revenue with Miami-Dade County if the team wins approval for a $3 million state tax rebate to help upgrade its stadium.

The tax rebate is an integral part of the Dolphins’ $200 million plan to overhaul Sun Life Stadium in the hopes of attracting more Super Bowls, college championships and other athletic events. On Monday, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Dolphins CEO Mike Dee held a press conference to announce that they would work together to hold a public referendum on increasing the mainland bed tax on hotels to 7 percent from 6 percent to help the Dolphins.

Rodriguez, who is voicing some reservations about a part of the plan, said the county should get a piece of the revenue because the tax money would improve a privately-owned stadium.

“The decision to hold a referendum is a positive addition to the proposal,” said Rodriguez, in a statement. “However, while Miami-Dade voters would weigh-in on a new hotel tax, they would not be allowed to weigh-in on added state subsidies which are also part of the proposal. It calls for an additional $3 million in annual taxpayer subsidy to the franchise for the next 30 years to operate the modernized facility. That component of the proposal, which would not be subject to voter referendum, is very troubling.”

Rodriguez sits on the Finance and Tax Subcommittee, which is expected to be the first on the House side to hear the bill that could grant the subsidy and give the county commission authority to raise the cap on the bed tax. The date for that hearing has not been set.

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